Container for retaining articles in a heated condition.



CONTAINER APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 8HEETSSHEBT 1.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES J. PRITSCHE. CONTAINER FOR RETAINING ARTICLES IN A HEATED CONDITION. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1911. 1 ,039,501 Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y /f WITNESSE'S 7i v yigeme ATTORNEYS 3. FRITSCHE. CONTAINER FOR RETAINING ARTICLES IN A HEATED CONDITION. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20,1911.

1 39,507, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

JOHN FRITSCHE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH V. HORN AND ONE-THIRD T0 FRANK HARDART, BOTH OF PHILADELFHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTAINER FOR RETAINING ARTICLES IN A HEATED CONDITION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJOHN Fm'rsoHn. a citizen of the United States. residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania. have invented a new and useful Container for Retaining Articles in a Heated Condition, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a container which is especially designed to be used in conjunct-ion with my novel vending machine such as is described and broadly claimed in my co-pending application for patent. filed on the 20th day of December, 1911. Serial No. 666,920, but which may be used independently of said vending apparatus or any other vending apparatus.

It further consists of a novel construction of an article receiving container in which I am enabled to obtain a circulation of a heated fluid in order to maintain the compartments within the container at a desired tem perature. thereby preventing the cooling of the articles to be vended, such as for example. articles of food.

' My invention further consists of a novel construction of a container provided with a novel construction and arrangement of comparti'nent-s. novel means for circulating a heated fluid between such compartments and novel means for permitting the escape of steam in case such is momentarily produced.

It further consists of a novel manner of causing a circulation of the liquid.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me. since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as .ierein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a container for retaining articles in a heated condition, the same being shown in conjunction with a portion of a vending machine structure. Fig. 2 represents a front Specification of Letters Patent. Patenigd Se t, 24, 1912 Application filed December 20, 1911 Serial No. 866,919.

elevation of my novel container. Fig. 3 represents a section in, line m."0 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of my device showing the manner in which the escape of steam is permitted, and certain details of construction. Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of my device showing on an enlarged scale, certain details of construction. Fig. 6 represents a sectional elevation of a portion of the lower end of the container, and a burner cooperating therewith.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings. 1 designates a container embodying my invention, the

same, in the present instance, being provided at 1ts lower end with a bottom 2 having a bearing v3 which is adapted to be rotatably mounted ina suitable supportsuch as the plate 4 forming a part of the vending machine structure. The upper end of the container is provided with a top plate or cover 5 having a boss 6 into which is adapted to extend a bearing pin 7. adjustably carried by a suitable frame such. as the plate 8 of the vending machine structure. whereby the container 1 is rotatably mounted with re- ..spect to the vending machine structure.

which latter is provided with a front wall 9 in which is pivotally supported a plurality of doors 10. which are preferably transparent. said doors having an extension 11 in which is mounted an anti-friction device 12. such as for example. the rollers indicated in Fig. 1. The door 10 is provided with apertures 13 with which are adapted to interlock spring pressed plungers 1%. said plungers and rollers being controlled in the same manner as is indicated in my co-pending application for vending machine to which I have hereinbefore referred. and. since the same forms no part of my present invention. a detailed description of the same is unnecessary.

The bottom member 2 of the container 1 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 15 within which is adapted to be seated the shell 16. which latter extends 0X- teriorly of the flange 17 on the cover 5.

1S designates an annulus passing around the shell. 1 at its lower end. as seen in Figs. 1 and 9. The bottom casting 2 has seated thereon a rectangular or other shaped container 19 which forms a heating chamber 20, the container 19 being provided oil its center with adepending conduit 21, Figs. 2- and 6, the lower end of which is threaded, as indicated at 22, thcreljy adapting the same to receive a cap nut or closure 23 against which the flames from a burner or other source of heat 2-11; are adapted to act to heat the liquid in the chamber and. cause it to circulate as hereinafter described. The closed top of the container 1.) has flanges and 26to which is secured a plate 2? inany desired manner, said plate serving as a support for the articles which it is desired to retain in a heated condition. 28 is a conduit communicating with the chamber 20 and having threaded connection with the container 19, the outer portion of such conduit having a shoulder 29 and provided with a-beveled or conical end 30 which cooperates with a seat of similar conformation in the fitting 31 which latter is threaded to receive a nut 32 which cooperates with the shoulder 29 to form a fluid tight joint between the conduit 28 and the fitting 31 which latter is fixed in position by a fastening device 33 engaging the plate 2. The container 19 has a removable closure 3 for convenience in casting the same. 35 is a conduit carried by the fitting 31 and communicating with the conduit. and leading to a fitting 36 which communicates with a liquid container 37 for the next compart ment and since such container 37 corresponds in construction to the container 19, a detailed description thereof would involve needless repetition, it being understood that. the number of containers would correspond to the number of compartments 38 employed, which may vary as desired. The container 19 has also communicating therewith a conduit 39, similar in construction to the con-- duit 28, and secured to a fitting 40 which latter has a coupling 41. securing the parts in fluid tight relation in the same manner as has already been described with reference to Fig. 5, itbeing understood that each fluid container is provided with a conduit similar to 39, which communicates with a fitting with wnich latter communicates, conduits 42, the upper of said conduits 42 extending through the top of the casing and having on opposite sides thereof the nuts 43 :1nd 14, which have threaded engagement therewith, the upper end of said uppermost conduit 42 being provided with a removable closure 45, having'threaded engagement therewith, in

the present instance.

- 4:6 designates an' overflow pipe located within the conduits 42 and having a, tight lit in the sleeve nut 17, which latter has threaciled eugagen'ientat 48 with the fitting 10, and the head of the nut is adapted to engage the bottom of the plate 2, in order to maintain the fitting 1-0 in proper position and also in order to, retain the overflow conduit 416 in position, it being seen fromFi at that improper nuweli'l'ent of the overflow pipe 46 with respect to the sleeve nut 47 is prevented by means of a pin 49.

The lower compartment 38 is formed between the, lower and upper plates 27, and the upper compartment 38 is formed between 21 plate 27 and the plate 50, secured to the shell 16 in any desired manner. The shell is cut away, as indicated at 5 1, in. order to form an open side providing access to a compartment 38. The upper conduit 85 extends through the top plate 5 and is provided with a renlovablc cap or closure 55.

56 designates a post extending from the top plate 5 and secured thereto in any desired manner, which serves as the grasping portion of the container 1 for rotating the same. The top plate is provided with the upwardly extending pins 57 which engage apert'ured brackets 58 which latter are secured to the shell 16 and have late :11 apertured extensions with which pins 57 interlOCl LiO prevent relative movement of the plate 5 and the shell 16.

The container 19 is provided with rein: forcing ribs 59 and also with lugs 60 through which fastening devices 61 pass to secure the shell 16 with respect to the container 19.

My present invention resides in the container 7 09 cc for holding and maintaining in a heated state articles of food, and it is to be definitely understood that without involving departure from the present invention the counter may be supported in any approved manner. and doors of any suitable type may be employed for closing the openings 5% except when it is desired to gain access to the compartments The operation of my novel container frlr maintaining articles in a heated condition will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows :-The heating medium, such as for example water, is placed within the container 19 and a source of heatmaintains the same at; the desired temperature and in case a Bunsen burner is emplojed, the flames therefrom act upon the closure 23 thereby causing circulation of the hot water which passes through the conduits 28 ii to the conduits 85 thence to a liquid contaixlier 37 beneath the next compartment and so on through the other liquid container 37 and also through the conduits 39c and 12 which communicate with such containers 19 and 37. In case steam should be formed, I pro vide means for permitting escape thereof since the same may pass through the overflow pipe 46 which discharges beneath the bottom of the container.

When it is desired to fill the compartments SS-the container will be rotated on its bearings so that the open side of the conipartments 38 will be turned to the rear of water-containers and closed at its lower and upper ends and. extending above the upper water container, and an upright conduit, of smaller diameter than the first-named con- 7 e attendant.

oeen found in practice that by the i :nt'ot a construction, as shown articles of food may be in i, ain'tained duit, arranged in the first-named conduit predetermined temperatur tor a period and extending above the upper water conseveral hours thereby enabling me to 1 tamer and open at its upper end, and exoduce a vending machine which will main n the articles to be vended at a predetermined temperature.

t will now be apparent that I have densed a novel and useful construction of a container for retaining in a heated condi ion articles to be vended, which embodies atures of advantage enumerated as deole in the statement of the invention the above description and while I have,

tending down below the first-named conduit and open at its lower end.

2. In a device bf theicharacter described, a container having compartments arranged one above the other, a water container dis posed immediately below the lower compartment and having a depending conduit closed at its lower end, means for heating said de pending conduit, a water container disposed immediately below the. upper compartment,

HIM

in the present instance, shown and'described a water container arranged in the upper pora preferred embodiment thereof which has tion of the lower compartment, an upright been found in practice to OIVQ satistactor conduit connected at intermediate oints of and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention or sacrificing any ofcits advantages.

Having thus described my invention,what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. in a device of. the character described, container having compartments arranged one ab ve the other, a Water container disposed immediately below the lower compartits length with said water containers and extending below the lower compartment and above the upper compartment, means closing the upper end of said conduit, a sleeve closing the lower end ot'the conduit, an upright conduit, smaller in diameter than the first-named conduit, arranged in the firstnamed conduit and extending from a point adjacent the upper closed end thereof down ward and through the sleeve andopen at its upper and lower ends, and means in the sleeve for supporting the second-named coni ncnt and having a depending conduit closed duit.

at its lower end, means for heating said de- JOHN FRITbCI-IE. ending conduit, a water container disposed Witnesses:

immediately below the upper compartment,

H. S. FAIRBANKS, an upright conduit conn' :tedwith the said C. D. MOVAY. 

